Retired Docs Stay Connected via Zoom
Retried surgeon Sidney Appel arranges course work and discussions for a group of erudite retirees, all at no cost. His list is around 70 and growing.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Retired Old Men’s Club hardly describes the energetic group that retired bariatric surgeon Sidney Appel conducts every weekday at 3 p.m.
Although the group initially started meeting in-person, they transitioned to using Zoom after COVID and quarantine. The group has remained in the virtual format — but nonetheless lively and scholarly.
The group’s topics range from discussions about the arts, science, a smattering of politics, and “heaven knows” what else. On any given weekday, a few dozen show up — many of whom are retired physicians living their best lives, learning sharing, alongside a bit of bragging.
Appel, 85, retired 19 years ago and can remember back to his time living on Buford Highway five decades ago. He recalled, “Our Zoom group began in-person with the late Leonard Brown. After COVID, we went to online. I have 70-plus on the distribution list. We have no limitation as to who attends — all religions although mainly Jewish. We revolve around daily lectures from the Great Courses and current topics, from physics to climate change.”
Generally, Appel selects the lecture topics along with input from others. “No officers — no dues but occasionally we have a contribution for the lecture series. We have lawyers, doctors, bankers, artists, architects — in other words, everyone is welcome,” he said.
Group member and retired physician Martin Throne moved to Atlanta from Montreal to do a fellowship in clinical pharmacology at Emory University. After practicing internal medicine on the staffs of Northside and St. Joseph’s hospitals, he switched to clinical (pharmacology) research. Now 82 years old, he has been a member of the men’s Zoom/study group for seven years.
He said, “The Great Courses I’ve found most informative have been the music programs taught by Professor Robert Greenberg who is not only an excellent teacher, but also imparts a great amount of humor. By attending these courses, I’ve made several new friends with whom my wife and I now socialize.”
Memphis native Gilbert Halpern who graduated with a Bachelor of industrial engineering from Georgia Tech in 1955, describes the sessions as “both mind bending and/or numbing.” His career was as a pacemaker technical service specialist. He currently performs film, video, and audio restorations.
He relayed, “I like the weekday Zoom group for two different reasons: Sidney offers daily video courses featuring the Navy, art, music, the Constitution, and other topics; and we attract an interesting panel of retired people to discuss the courses. This is usually followed by discussions of the courses and then followed by discussions of current events, both lively. The participants cover a wide range of experiences and knowledge of the topics and life in general … It’s always fun and sometimes educational.”
Raymon Franco, a retired plastic surgeon, is a loyal Zoomer. He told the AJT, “Sid Appel’s ‘retirement’ discussions involve topics ranging from politics to sports to travel, music, art history, and the sciences. Each session begins by viewing a 45-minute DVD from the Great Courses teaching company which are highly instructive and generally delivered by top-notch university professors or practitioners. We intentionally stay away from any sort of formal organization and administrative structure.”
Jerry Blumenthal, 86, a retired cardiologist, has been a “Zoomer” since 2020. He regularly participates on Mondays for music and Friday’s art education. His favorite guest presenters have been well prepared with visuals about physics, no less. He stated that most sessions end in discussions about politics, and said, “By and large we are mostly Big D’s, with one or two R’s.”
Retired pediatrician Mike Levine, who turns 90 this December, most enjoys the history of the Constitution, symphony music sessions, how to look at and understand great art, America after the Cold War, and Middle East history and politics.
He recalls “Most days I check in the morning, to see whether I like the topic to tune in or not.” Levine was featured March 13,2024, in the Atlanta Jewish Times “Retired Men take a Hike” about his own initiative with fit male seniors meeting weekly at various walking paths.
None in the group mentioned current attire … Zooming in pajamas which was “all the fashion rage” during COVID.
Those interested can email Sidney at sidneyappel1@hotmail.com.
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